my parents weren't overly pushy with me, just pushy enough, and it worked out well. Infact my education is something I'm extremely grateful for, perhaps only my health is more valuable to me. They were very lenient with my brother, as he wasn't very "academic" from a young age, and that's the way he stayed.
the only person I ever knew with truly over-the-top strict parents grew up to be a weird guy with some personality defects, who got no real success in his education due to eventually rebelling in his mid-late teens - even did stupid **** that got him involved with police. I avoid him now.